DOVER — The Town of Dover Council and Mayor James P. Dodd voted during their final meeting of the year to restore in-person public access to Town Hall meetings, ending months of remote-only participation.
The resolution was approved unanimously by all members present, including several council members who will not be serving in the upcoming year. Beginning with the January 1 reorganization meeting, residents and members of the public will once again be permitted to attend council meetings in person.
The decision follows a controversial incident during the May 27 council meeting, when an individual appeared wearing a head-to-toe burqa, identified himself as a woman, and refused to remove the face covering. Mayor Dodd called for a recess, after which the council returned and voted in favor of a ban related to the incident. Councilwoman Sandra Wittner cast the lone dissenting vote.
Council members Sergio Rodriguez, Mike Scarneo, Arturo Santana, and Claudia Toro joined Mayor Dodd in voting to approve the resolution restoring in-person meetings in 2026.
Mayor Dodd did not provide public comment regarding the resolution.
